BOTANICAL PARK IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM- THE GREENSIDE OF THE COUNTRY

The entrance to the Agrotechnology Park, Brunei.

The road near the entrance of the Agrotechnology Park remind me of the view of countryside on some of part of the European countries that we had visited. Even the park ( i would rather call it the Botanical park) was not in our list of places to visit in  Bandar Seri Begawan, we were definitely not disappointed with Rosidah's suggestion to visit these place. People who likes gardening, to see the green side of the country or even the photographer (in particular capturing the landscaping)  wouldnot want to miss to be there. It was noted that the place was opened back in 2009 during the agricultural expo.

All in all, in our list, the places that we wanted to visit and see were The Royal Regalia Building, Kampung Ayer, Jame'asr Hassanil Bolikah Mosque and the Nurul Iman Palace.

Rest area in the shape of big pumpkin.

Even we only spent an hour before we went to the nearest mosque for Asar prayer, it was a worth effort to see a park where you can enjoy brisk walking with your loved ones to see the animals like deers, birds, the greenhouse where the fresh flowers are kept and get to know some tree or plants which you have not come across all your life like big Cactus. Of course, the landscaping photographer would love to snap as much photos for their collections/remembrance.  

Rosidah (right) and Khadijah(my wife) at the end of the park tour.

ex-NELP REUNION IN BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN,BRUNEI

EVENING SAT30NOV2013

It was unplanned.

Thanked to Rosidah for her effort to get Zam and Hj Supry for a dinner with my family. The last time we met was when three of them went to Putrajaya to attend ex-NELP/PEL/UEL 1980-1990 reunion held on 01Jul2007. About six years ago.

Rosidah brought us to a restaurant in Batu Bersurat, not far from the hotel we stayed. We witnessed and requested to try a well-known local food known as ambuyat. 

From left to right, Rosidah, Zam,Hj.Supry,myself and wife. A reunion dinner hosted by the Bruneian friends.\

Immediately before we left the restaurant, it was heavy rain and hence, we continued to chat to recall the older days in college and UK.We wish that one day friends from Malaysia come over to Brunei and has a grand reunion here!!!

AN AFTERNOON TREAT IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

SATURDAY 30NOV2013.

Prior to have lunch, we passed the Jerudong park. We went to the only 6-star-hotel in Brunei, Empire Hotel. It was huge with various type of accommodation for the guest like serviced apartments and hotels, surrounded by the golf course, swimming pools and private beach for the guest. The place was initially built for the ruler and subsequently converted as a commercial hotel.

inside the hotel -reception/main lobby

One of the apartments at Empire Hotel

The map of Empire Hotel

Then, we went to Kiulap.
We had the pleasure of having lunch with Zainal's family in the well-known restaurant, Aneka Rasa in Kiulap. One of things i knew that they do served food known as Tumpi which seems to be the favorite food for the ruler during the breakfast.Very unfortunate that i donot take the photo of the food.

My great session with Zainal and his family ended up after lunch as my former university friend in UK had invited us for another sightseeing within Brunei.

Took about 30 minutes (by chance), Roshidah drove us to the border of Brunei-Malaysia, Kuala Lurah.We managed to take the photo of the border where the immigration check-point was. It is smaller than the other 2 borders in Miri and Limbang, according to her.

Malaysia-Brunei border at Kuala Lurah.

....to be continued..

TOUR BRUNEI DARUSSALAM - 30NOV2013

Entrance to the Main Palace

Saturday 30Nov2013.

My second day in Brunei.

We had a great breakfast at the hotel.
Each of us,like a journalist updated our friends about yesterday. Facebook, Instagram and Whatsup. As usual, i just wanted to tease my friend in Malaysia and say Hi to them. For me, holidays with family is like a must thing to do every year without fail. Alsoas a break, away from home and office.

My countryman, Zainal took us for a ride within the city. When we were planning to visit Brunei two years ago, our list were to see The Jerudong Park, the mosque, the palace and Kampung Ayer (the water village).
After driving through the city to see old and new buildings one after another, we were at the front entrance to the Kampung Ayer.  We did not intend to take the boat to pass through the village, but instead , we drove past the village and went to the hill nearby by the river. We ended up parked the car and visited the Brunei Museum. That was our first point to get to know Brunei in details. 

One thing in common was both Zainal and my family went to the museum for the first time. It was divided into many areas, the oil discovery in Brunei, Islamic civilization in Brunei, animals and the green in Brunei as well as the story about the Kampung Ayer (Water Village). 

We took our family photo (left) behind the nice painting of the Water Village, Brunei at the foyer of the Brunei Museum. We had the chance to capture the actual Water Village which built with the infrastructure like mosque and school (see below). 

                                        ....to be continued.....

BRUNEI DARUSSALAM 2013

Bandar Seri Begawan International Airport

Brunei Darussalam.
(My special thanks to all Bruneian friends who had spent their time with me in Brunei)

29Nov2013 - Bandar Seri Begawan. 
This was my last trip of the year 2013 by air. 
We used to hear the phrase "Near but yet so far". That's how i described my trip to Brunei. Only 2 hours and 20 minutes flying from Kuala Lumpur. It is so near but it took ages to complete our journey to Bandar Seri Begawan. The other two known cities in Borneo, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu , the capital city of Sarawak and Sabah respectively (the two states of Malaysia) have been explored years ago. We could not imagine how these city looks like. The capital city of Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan.

We were greeted by Nur, my colleague in Brunei MH office. We stayed at The Centrepoint hotel, the place known as Gadong. About 5 minutes from the airport and has all the facilities any tourists want. A supermarket, shopping mall, two hotels separated by the shopping mall, fast food outlet like Mac Donald, Clinics, sundries,Pizza Hut and not to forget a daily night market not far from where we stayed.

 

HULL..HERE I COME

Wed 12August 1987

The trip was rather to see other interesting places in UK. At the same time, meeting other Malaysian from different walks of life. I accompanied Khalid to meet his cousin in Hull, located in the north of UK. We took a coach from Victoria, London in the morning. We reach Hull around 3pm after 4 and half hours journey by road. It was decided to stay at his cousin's apartment for 3 days at Kingston-Upon-Hull. His cousin, a lecturer from UPM, the Malaysia Agriculture University(now known as University Putra Malaysia) stayed with his wife and one son. He took a postgraduate study.

Upon meeting at the Hull Coach station, i was introduced by Khalid with different language as they spoke Javanese. Of course, we knew them by an abbreviation JPS -stands for Jawa Peranakan Selangor (the term used to describe their clan when they speak other).

We had an entertaining evening as they (the Malaysian students within the same community with Khalid's cousin) invited us to join to play Badminton (even it was not my favorite sport). I enjoyed the game.


Thu 13August 1987

We had a late breakfast. Poor me as i am the early bird. Had to bear my stomach until the breakfast is served by the host.

We were then brought to a small town known as Hornsea. The name itself  known for the beach meant for the local within Hull. The attraction was not only to go the seaside but also to the well-known Pottery outlet in this town.

Being in summer, we were had the chance to pick strawberries at the nearest farm to bring home too.

Fri14August 1987

Even we are musafir (away from home and had some priviliges for performing solat in simple ways as allowed by the religion like combining the two prayers into one), with God bless, we had the opportunity to perform Friday prayer at the Hull Islamic Centre. The Moslem community in Hull were quite big and hence,ease the community to get the Halal meat. Alhamdulilah.

Sat15August 1987

We were privileged to be Khalid's cousin guests. On our last day before we took the coach at 4.30pm, we were shown the Humberbridge (imagine you see the 1st Penang Bridge) . I was made to understand that the bridge had the longest span in the world. Well, i am not good to explain it in words. It was one of the best bridges i have seen in my life apart from the Penang Bridge (which made the Malaysian proud of it those day). We spent some time at Hull Town Centre to buy momento before leaving the town.
   

SUMMER HOLIDAYS 1987 - PART II

SUMMER HOLIDAYS 1987
(Dedicate to my friends, Zul,Khalizan and Fadzil who had a great fun with me for the holidays)


Sat11Jun1987
It was our second trip for the Summer Holidays 1987.We started the journey to one of the sandy beaches, Bournemouth. Located in the South East of UK.We spent a night, as usual, in the camping area known as Hurn.
A small town between Bournemouth and Paignton. After the dinner, we walked around Torquoy to enjoy the nightlife. We were disturbed by a group of drunk teenagers.

Tourquay by night

Sun 12Jun1987
We started the day by spending some time at the beach. swimming and canoeing. It was a sunny day. Being a muslim teenager who just want to have fun at the beach, we do not expect to see something that is different and forbidden. But it was an experience for us being in a foreign land to see different cultures of people going to the beach. On the way back to London, we stopped at Plymouth. Just another English town to observe and enjoyed walking around.

At Bournemouth

SUMMER HOLIDAYS 1987

Personal note in 1987

Fri26Jun87

A great Friday for me. I passed my first year examination. Alhamdullilah, So another 2 years to go.

Sat27Jun87 

The summer holidays started. it was my first summer holidays in UK. Unlike other friends who had extra    

money, they spent their vacation back home. 

We started the holiday to Southern part of UK. Brother Zul  and Razak drove the car. We started the journey around 4 am after Subuh Prayer to Great Yarmouth. 

7 am.We arrived and spent the day there. 

Sat27Jun1987:Pleasure Beach,Great Yarmouth,UK.

Model Village, Great Yarmouth,UK.

3.30pm.We left the town and went to Margate where we have to spend a night day by camping at the   located site. 

8.30pm.We arrived Margate.The camping area known as Birchington. It was a green area where you meet all type of people going for holidays.We prepared 2 tents for 5 of us. 

Sun28Jun87

6.30 am. Time for shower and prayer. Suddenly, out of blue, we heard a small plane landed nearby our camping site. It was shocked to know that the camping site is located next to a runway of a small airport.

10 am.We left the place for the last destination, Brighton.

1pm.Arrived Brighton and relaxed ourselves at the beach. It was a sunny day despite we felt cold once in a while. This was the first beach i been in UK.

6.30pm.We left for a memorable trip. The first of few series for Summer Holidays. It only cost GBP20 per person (5 of us) for hiring the car, the fuel, tent's area and food throughout the journey.

11pm - We arrived home safely. What a weekend. Another 2 months to go before attending the second year term.

BRUSSELS DAN AMSTERDAM

SUN08DEC12-
 My family trip to end 2012 was a good one even with a small budget.
This time around we invaded only 2 countries in Europe namely Belgium and Netherlands.

11.59pm - the B777-200 aircraft left Kuala Lumpur International Airport for Amsterdam. This was the third time  I visited Amsterdam after 1989- during my studies in UK and 1993 - when Manaf was there. It was totally a different journey.Four of us.
we landed safely at the Schipol airport,Amsterdam around 6.30am on Mon09Dec12. My new friend, Wilfred was late to welcome us at the airport.

Decision made subsequently upon arrival to purchase  return train tickets to Brussels. We took the new train managed by a new company known as Fyra.We purchased the 7.55am tickets. It was unfortunate that the train was delayed for almost an hour. The journey had 5 stops passed two countries ie Netherlands and Belgium and the best part that the passengers doesnot require to stop for Immigration clearance upon arriving Belgium. We got confused on which road to walk upon reaching the capital city of Belgium, Brussels. Our tiredness is gone upon reaching the hotel and saw the turkish kebab restaurant nearby.

 

WED19JUN13-WHAT U KNOW ABOUT YOUR FATHER?

WED19JUN13
THE 3RD NRM/FINANCE TOASTMASTER MEETING AT SUBANG.

Shihaj (R) presented a token of appreciation to the GE of the day,Shirley Bak.

Attended by only 13 people.The confirmation of the attendees were 14 initially (only 1 no-show for the event). The much fun awaited of the 3rd meeting for NRM/Finance Toastmasters meeting held at our office, Network and Revenue Management meeting room, 1st Floor, Admin 3A Building, Complex B, SZB.

The SAA called the meeting to order at 5.59pm. This time was Sharifah Azlina who volunteered to be the SAA.

KB(right) awarded the best table topic speaker .

To lead the meeting, myself again led to be the TMD (toastmaster of the day). It was honoured to have the Division C Governor for 2012/2013 (under the district 51) to attend this meeting. Another guest was Hisham
from GE Aviation who intended to form a new club in Subang by seeing how the meeting was conducted.

The theme of the day was "The Father's Day" and hence, the TTM (Table Topic Master) arranged the session with the subjects related to Father's Day. Participated by 10 people and evaluated by  my best friend in TM, Brother Zolkifly (among the pioneer of MAS Anggerik members in 2005-2007).

10 people with 10 different stories from how my father looks like, my favorite father, expectation of a father to a nice story about a father colded his son who spoilt the cake (which ended up the son has to eat half of the 4kg cake- amazing - guess who's story is this?).

The 2 prepared speeches by Noraini (PASSION on her 2nd speech) and Jamila (THE BLACK CROW) who concluded her 10th speech for the basic manual of CC fulfilled the objectives of the day.

Jamila (L) was congratulated by Shihaj on her achievement.

The first half of the meeting was ended up with the refreshment provided by the club.

The second session continued with the evaluation session. Headed by Sirley Bak to be the general evaluator of the day, she was assisted by the 1st timer of the role players:-

Nurhema -with countless unacceptable words like Ah, um,ok, so , you know etc. (THE AH COUNTER)

KB - The English teacher of the day.Remember to differentiate between memorise and remember!!
         Word of the day -PLAN were used 6 times only.PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN PLAN

Emil - Representative from ROLEX on our timing for each speaker/role players. Superb!!

The meeting concluded at 7.30pm. It was an enjoyable evening.Thank you to Shihaj on the inspiring closing speech. He shared on the kids of two different worlds in Asia and western countries with different philosophy of life on failure and success.Above all, we need confidence in life to survive!!

SUBANG
THU20JUN13

p/s Special thanks to Azu for the photos.